This week's front cover: sheep grazing wheat in Co Meath
Back to traditional ways: Louis McAuley standing in his crop of fast-developing Celule winter wheat after he let his neighbour Derek Brangan’s sheep graze the crop. The crop belongs to McAuley Feeds in Burtonstown, Co Meath, and has been direct drilled for a number of years. The traditional practice of grazing off the vegetation on strong crops is thought to give it an advantage and Louis has been thinking abut doing it for many years now. \ Philip Doyle
Tuesday's cattle sale at Ennis Mart
Pat O'Brien from Meelick and Michael Cleary from Ennis at Ennis Mart. \ Hany Marzouk
Alan Kelly from Ballinasloe and Michael O'Toole from Loughrea. \ Hany Marzouk
John Hannon from Quinn and Ennis Mart manager Martin McNamara. \ Hany Marzouk
James O'Grady from Crusheen and Jim Sheedy from Ennis. \ Hany Marzouk
Liam Dunne scanning sheep
Liam Dunne scanning ewes on a farm outside Mountrath, Co Laois. Scanning rates have been variable so far, with many early-lambing flocks achieving lower litter sizes, while mid-season lambing flocks have seen an improvement on these levels. \ Philip Doyle
Spreading lime in Co Cavan
Contractor Patrick Cassidy of Cassidy Bros spreading lime for organic beef and sheep farmer Jane Shackleton on her farm at Mullagh, Co Cavan. \ Barry Cronin
My farming week: Alison Daly in Co Meath
Alison Daly is a dairy and sheep farmer with her parents at Clonard, Co Meath. The family is currently milking 100 cows, but has plans for expansion in the future. In addition to milking, the family also keeps 100 ewes, but plans to cut back on this number in the future. \ Philip Doyle
January baling in Co Tipperary
David Young loading bales that his brother Tim Jnr made for their father Tim Snr on the family farm at Ballinahinch, Birdhill, Co Tipperary. The silage was mown on New Year’s Day and baled on 4 January. David will use the bales for his 40-cow Charolais-cross suckler herd. \ Donal O’Leary
John O'Halloran moving heifers in Co Tipperary
John O’Halloran giving heifers a fresh break of a forage crop on the farm of dairy farmer Paddy Nihill in Puckaun, Co Tipperary. John is also studying for his Green Cert in Gurteen Agricultural College. \ Philip Doyle
Read more
Around the country in pictures
This week in photos: lambing begins
In pictures: our favourite images from 2018
This week's front cover: sheep grazing wheat in Co Meath
Back to traditional ways: Louis McAuley standing in his crop of fast-developing Celule winter wheat after he let his neighbour Derek Brangan’s sheep graze the crop. The crop belongs to McAuley Feeds in Burtonstown, Co Meath, and has been direct drilled for a number of years. The traditional practice of grazing off the vegetation on strong crops is thought to give it an advantage and Louis has been thinking abut doing it for many years now. \ Philip Doyle
Tuesday's cattle sale at Ennis Mart
Pat O'Brien from Meelick and Michael Cleary from Ennis at Ennis Mart. \ Hany Marzouk
Alan Kelly from Ballinasloe and Michael O'Toole from Loughrea. \ Hany Marzouk
John Hannon from Quinn and Ennis Mart manager Martin McNamara. \ Hany Marzouk
James O'Grady from Crusheen and Jim Sheedy from Ennis. \ Hany Marzouk
Liam Dunne scanning sheep
Liam Dunne scanning ewes on a farm outside Mountrath, Co Laois. Scanning rates have been variable so far, with many early-lambing flocks achieving lower litter sizes, while mid-season lambing flocks have seen an improvement on these levels. \ Philip Doyle
Spreading lime in Co Cavan
Contractor Patrick Cassidy of Cassidy Bros spreading lime for organic beef and sheep farmer Jane Shackleton on her farm at Mullagh, Co Cavan. \ Barry Cronin
My farming week: Alison Daly in Co Meath
Alison Daly is a dairy and sheep farmer with her parents at Clonard, Co Meath. The family is currently milking 100 cows, but has plans for expansion in the future. In addition to milking, the family also keeps 100 ewes, but plans to cut back on this number in the future. \ Philip Doyle
January baling in Co Tipperary
David Young loading bales that his brother Tim Jnr made for their father Tim Snr on the family farm at Ballinahinch, Birdhill, Co Tipperary. The silage was mown on New Year’s Day and baled on 4 January. David will use the bales for his 40-cow Charolais-cross suckler herd. \ Donal O’Leary
John O'Halloran moving heifers in Co Tipperary
John O’Halloran giving heifers a fresh break of a forage crop on the farm of dairy farmer Paddy Nihill in Puckaun, Co Tipperary. John is also studying for his Green Cert in Gurteen Agricultural College. \ Philip Doyle
Read more
Around the country in pictures
This week in photos: lambing begins
In pictures: our favourite images from 2018
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